If you take your kids to the cafe, you shouldn't bring a packed lunch for them?

[AndiMac]

I'm at the garden centre and there's a soft play area attached to the cafe bit. A mum with two kids about 4 is here with her friend. They have ordered lunch, but the kids are having food the mum brought from home. Not just a couple of breadsticks, but sandwiches, sides and a drink. The cafe has food for kids, so that isn't an excuse.

I can understand that going out for lunch is expensive, but am I being unreasonable to think if you can't afford to buy lunch for your kids as well as yourself, maybe you should come after lunch and just have a coffee?

I doubt anyone would judge you for that Kal, that is totally different.

But if they only come for coffee then the cafe has lost the price of two adult lunches, by your reasoning OP

As for taking up seats. Not many adults are going to join another adult. Unless its sunday bank holiday weekend.

But Kal situation totally different babybarrister and Original that is not the reasoning of the OP this is another thread where things get totally twisted and I do not think we judging per se just commenting that perhaps it not too much to ask if eat food in a cafe from the actual cafe !

I noticed because we walked into the garden centre together and said a couple of words to each other in passing as our kids ran out of the rain. I saw she had two lunch bags with her and wondered what she was planning to do. She sat at the table next to me and proceeded to pull out the food for the kids.

It wasn't my business in that I didn't say anything to the women, nor give them any dirty looks. Nor did I call the manager over, stand up, point my finger and tattle, "They have food that they didn't buy here!!" I asked on here, in a more or less anonymous fashion because it irked me. From what I read here, it seems most people agree with me. Thanks for the feedback.

imnotmymum

"I can understand that going out for lunch is expensive, but am I being unreasonable to think if you can't afford to buy lunch for your kids as well as yourself, maybe you should come after lunch and just have a coffee?"

FWIW, I think that unless there are allergies etc, it's a bit cheeky to bring an entire meal for a child

HOWEVER

I had one v fussy child, and would bring bits and bobs for him, while the rest of us ate the cafe food. The cafe might decide that this is preferable to non-one eating the cafe food, or just having a coffee.

I can afford to do both but was just highlighting if things were tight and I was going to take the kids to a play area then I would get them food and I would just have a coffee that what I was saying.

imnot - sorry, my reply and quote was to the OP

I meant my reply to you was relating to what the OP said

OK I think I posted earlier about if could not afford etc etc did not read back sorry !

No, it's also me. I have not read the whole thread, which is ironic because I'm often berating others for not doing the same

Both mine have SN and food is a real issue for them. I refuse to pay out for food they won't eat.

Then why go at lunchtime ...

I cannot believe he is so fussy... you are making this up aren't you if my kids were like this they would bloody starve

I take stuff for dd1 if we go out (which then also turns into treats/snacks for dd2 as wel, as she wants to share what her sister has)

she has dietary issues (gluten and dairy free, plus can't have a few other things) compounded by ASD food issues.

now, after years of work with her, she will maybe eat some chips and a plain chicken breast - but often chips aren't gluten free, or the fryer has been used ofr gluten products, so that is out.

dh, dd2 and me all buy stuff.

oh, and I take juice too -dd1 cannot have apple or orange, nor most drinks served up in cafes, and won't drink water (ASD issues again).

there really isn't anywhere that caters that well for her (in garden centre coffeshop type terms) - we are ok in a larger town centre, and can always head to nandos, but that isn't quite the same level of expense as a quick sandwich in a cafe, is it?

wow then I am so sorry Rhino ! I guess I have been lucky but have seen some friends buy other things for their child because "I DON'T WANT IT" and assumed that it was the parents fault. Oh how naive I am

Oh dear...I do this quite a lot, because one of my DC is bloody fussy and the other one has allergies, and it costs a flipping fortune by the time I've bought stuff for them too only for it to be not eaten. The way I see it, the cafe at least gets some business, rather than if I met up with my friend at home. Nowhere we go is very busy so its not like they're taking up much needed space.

babybarrister I don't need to 'see' anything. I have not judged anybody.

I have a friend who when we go out for lunch always orders a kids jacket potato and a glass of tap water, then shares it between her and her DD, and often brings a tub of extra salad for herself. I always feel really guilty and end up buying loads to make up for it.

I will bring a piece of fruit for DS1 (2.10) to have after his meal, if hey don't have an there, bu he will have always had a main meal bought from there, or shared mine. Though half the time we leave the fruit and buy cake instead

True Rhinos

Take heart though. DS1 (11) is nearly normal in his eating habits - a lot healthier than many, actually.